Dynamic Task-Related Changes in Electroencephalography Brain Connectivity During a Button-Press Task in Children with and Without Bilateral Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) often affects function of one or both arms. Resting-state magnetic resonance imaging studies identified abnormal neuronal connectivity related to functional deficits in CP, with few studies on dynamic, task-related changes in connectivity. Here, we compare connectivity in participants with CP and typical development (TD) during an upper limb task and relate these to motor performance. Methods: Children with CP (n = 15) and TD (n = 15) performed a button-press task with both arms, while recording 64-channel electroencephalography. Inter- and intrahemispheric connectivity between dominant and nondominant premotor, motor, and sensory regions were examined during rest, movement preparation, and execution using a normalized magnitude squared time-frequency coherence analysis (α-band: 8-12 Hz, β-band: 13-35 Hz, γ-band: 36-85 Hz). Results: The only group differences were in intrahemispheric connectivity during nondominant arm trials, with CP having higher frontal to central connectivity than TD in all frequency bands in the dominant hemisphere and higher central to parietal beta connectivity in the nondominant hemisphere. Significant main effects for period showed most differences between rest and movement phases. Group by period interactions were also only found during nondominant arm trials (interhemispheric: CP coherence increased more during execution in frontal, central, and parietal regions; intrahemispheric: CP coherence decreased less during execution in nondominant and dominant frontal to parietal regions). Clinical and movement scores were moderately related to connectivity in CP, with poorer nondominant arm function significantly correlated with higher inter- and intrahemispheric coherence. Conclusions: Group differences emerged mainly during intrahemispheric nondominant arm trials across frequency bands with higher coherence in CP associated with greater functional limitation. Impact Statement In contrast to assessing brain connectivity with MRI in children with CP, the use of EEG enables the investigation of this during a functional task, and the sample is not limited by head movements that preclude the attainment of high-quality MRI data in many with CP. The finding of increased task-specific intrahemispheric brain connectivity in bilateral CP, the magnitude of which was related to the degree of functional limitations, suggests a new target for rehabilitation as well as a sensitive outcome measure for clinical trials aimed at improving brain and motor function in CP.

Keywords: brain injury; motor function; upper limb.